Utah Athletics Officially Re-Opens Facilities With Phased Approach

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The University of Utah Athletics department officially re-opened their facilities with a phased approach starting with voluntary workouts.

June 15 is the day that Utah began their first phase of re-opening the facilities which will allow student-athletes that are in the state of Utah to voluntarily workout at the athletic facilities.

Part of the plan that Utah has put in place is that all student-athletes will workout while practicing the six-feet social distancing. Each sports team will be in small groups as far as housing and will remain away from other.

If a student-athlete tests positive for COVID-19, they will be removed but the rest of the group can work. Each individual will be tested when they return to campus including for antibodies and will have their temperatures checked daily and will have symptoms evaluated everyday.

Phase 1 began today with all in-state student-athletes for football, men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics, volleyball and soccer.

Utah football tweeted out a photo of the Spence and Cleone Eccles Football Center on Monday morning that said “It’s a beautiful day to welcome some of our guys back to campus!”

It’s a beautiful day to welcome some of our guys back to campus! #UBoyz pic.twitter.com/3eXrDKtQJd

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) June 15, 2020

They also tweeted out photos of players walking into the facility for their voluntary workouts. Those players included quarterback Jake Bentley, running backs Micah Bernard and Jordan Wilmore, wide receivers Samson Nacua and Cameron Gardner along with tight end Brant Kuithe.

Back in the 8️⃣0️⃣1️⃣. It’s a great day to be a Ute! #UBoyz pic.twitter.com/M1z07Ls2gL

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) June 15, 2020

Utah men’s basketball players are voluntarily working out on campus on Monday. The official Runnin’ Utes Twitter account posted a video of players like Rylan Jones, Branden Carlson, Jaxon Brenchley and others walking into the facilities.

It’s good to be back! 🙌 #GoUtes🏀🔴 pic.twitter.com/wu8HW9jlu3

— Utah Basketball🏀 (at 🏡) (@UtahMBB) June 15, 2020

Sunday evening, Utah Director of Athletics Mark Harlan tweeted out Sunday night the following:

“So thankful to the Utah Athletics staffers who have worked tirelessly to create a safe and awesome environment to begin the return to campus process. Thank you to our student-athletes too who have been so patient. The many months away from each other makes the days ahead special.”

So thankful to the @utahathletics staffers who have worked tirelessly to create a safe & awesome environment to begin the return to campus process. Thank you to our student-athletes too who have been so patient. The many months away from each other makes the days ahead special.

— Mark Harlan (@MarkHarlan_AD) June 15, 2020

Utah Women’s Soccer tweeted out photos with the caption “First! Glad to be back!” The photos included the signs that are being used at the facilities saying “Please wait here. Stop the spread.”

First! ☝️ @utahathletics

Glad to be back! 😃#GoUtes 🙌⚽️ pic.twitter.com/MoELnxW8PO

— Utah Women's Soccer (@UtahWSoccer) June 15, 2020

🎶 Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back 🎶 #GoUtes 🙌⚽️ pic.twitter.com/fMOfpbBJ7b

— Utah Women's Soccer (@UtahWSoccer) June 15, 2020

Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.